Synchronizing apparatus



Nov. 18, 1941; s'. MEND ELSOHN EI'AL 2,263,046

syncnnok1zmo APPARATUS Filed Oct. 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR J. ME/VflElSd/l/V BYP. K. 9' 6/911 M mm ATTORNEY s. MENDELSQIHN EI'AL I 2,263,046

SYNGHRON I Z ING. APPARATUS Filed Oct. 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 6. MFA DEL .s'a/nv f GILL ATTORNEY Y Patented Nov. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OF FlCE 2,263,046 t I I SYNCHRONIZING APPARATUS Samuel Mendelsohn, Montclair, and Philip K.

McGall, Orange, N. J said said Mendelsohn McGall assignor to Application October 3, 1940, Serial No. 359,498

I Claims.

The present invention relates to camera synchronizers. for completely opening a camera 01' a cumbersome nature, being composed of numerous parts which detracts appreciably from the flexibility of operation of the synchronizer and making the assembly somewhat unwieldy when aflixed to a camera. In addition it has been impractical with prior structures to utilize the synchronizing apparatus detached from the camera and disposed remotely thereto owing to 'the rigidity of the connecting mechanism.

Moreover, one of the most troublesome features heretofore existent has been the necessity for "cocking the synchronizer prior to each exposure which all too frequently results in loss of the desired picture, particularly in the case of newspaper photography.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a synchronizer for camera shutters which is very compact and yet extremely flexible in operation.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a camera synchronizer which is auto- I matically cocked" after each exposure preparatory to'operation for a succeeding exposure.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a camera synchronizer of compact form which is readily attachable to a battery case and which may be operated from a rela- .tively remote position respecting the camera.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a camera synchronizer of compact form which is readily attachable to a battery case wherein the entire apparatusis operable by depression of a single retractable mechanism and which automatically resets the apparatus for a succeeding camera exposure.

4 Still further objects oi! the present invention will become obvious to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational viewoi the camera synchronizer oi the present invention, with parts broken away to better illustrate the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view'taken on the line n--n of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction Fig. 5 a sectional view taken on the line V-V of Fig. 8 looking in the direction shown by the arrows; p

'Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line VIVI of Fig. 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 'l is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit arrangement of the present synchronizer, and

Fig. 8 is an elevational'view of a contact terminal forming part of the synchronizing apparatus of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail the synchronizer oi the present invention. as shown in Fig. 1, comprises a cylindrical metal casing 5 which houses a pair of dry cell batteries 6 and l for supplying sumcient energy to ignite a photoflash lamp and operate a relay to cause opening of a camera shutter. Supp rted by the casing I, such as by a bayonet-clutch arrangement I, is a cylindrical metallic base member 9.

A bracket I0 is rigidly secured to the member 9, such as by set screws or the like l2 (Fig. 2), and extends angularly upward and to which is adiustably' secured, as by a. knurled handled set screw it, a metallic reflector H. Also secured to v the bracket II is a sprins pressed clamping memupper closed end ll of the cylindrical member I is an insulating block or the like I! surrounded by a metallic collar 2., the latter ot'which is finished to match the casing I and member 0. This insulating block, as shown. is. formed in two pieces 22 and It with aplurality of metallic plates 24, I and It being held between the two pieces by the collar a By reference more particularly to I'ig. 6 it will be noted that these metallic pieces lie in the same plane and are all separated from each other to serve as electrical contact terminals. The metallic plate 24 is connected by a terminal screw 21' (Fig. 3) and conductor II to a terminal contact I! carried by an insulated washer or the like 8., the latter of which is insulatinsly supported by a bracket 82 so astodispose the contact" Dlained.

paratus.

over the terminal of battery which thus supplies a positive polarity to the metallic plate 24. v The metallic plate 25, which normally carries no electrical current, overlaps the plate I. but is insulated therefrom by a sheet of insulating material it, as can be seen in Fig.6, and this plate is connected by a rivet'or the like 34 passing through the upper piece 22 of the block l9 to a spring strip-3S constituting the center contact of the socket for the photofiash'lamp II. In a similar manner the plate is connected by a conductor 36 soldered thereto which extends to one end of the winding of a solenoid 31, the op-" with a tubular casing II extending transversely therethrough and projecting slightly beyond the walls of the cylindrical member 9. A flexible metallic sheathing or the like 59 is secured by a sleeve or the like 80 to one of the projecting ends of the tubular casing 58 allowing rotary motion therebetween. and the free end of the sheathing is provided with threaded sleeve 2 which connects to the camera shutter cable release 63, through the medium of a connector 64 as shown in Fig. 4. Rotary motion is also provided between the cable release 63 and the connector 84 through the medium of a set screw 65 proposite end of which is grounded as can be seen in Fig. 7.

The sole purpose of the metallic plate It is to supply negative polarity in still further photofiash lamps as shown by 'the lamps II and 39 in Fig. 7 and in order to ground the plate 28 so that it is connected through groundto the negative side of the batteries 0 and I a set screw projects throughthe lower piece 23 of the insulating block is into the closed metallic end l8 of the member 8. For the purpose .of establishing connection with the plate 28 as well as the plates 24 and 25 the underside of the block I! is provided with a plurality ofopenings 42. 501- dered to the respectiveplates 24, 25 and 2! are spring clips 43, suchas shown in Fig. 8, which project downwardly through the openings 42 thus enabling a connecting jack to be readily inserted into contact with the spring clips 43.

The solenoid-I1 is bolted, as at 44, to the cylindrical member I to allow for adjustment of the core and an armature 4! in the form of a bellcrank is pivoted to a metallic bracket 4' forming a part of the magnet of the solenoid with the armature being biased in a normally open position by a leaf spring 41. An adjusting screw 4| and locknut 4! are provided to enable adjustment of the air gap of the armature and tensioning or thesprlng 41 for the purpose of synchronizing the apparatus as hereinafter ex- To complete a circuit to thephotoflash lamp I! (or the lamps a and if connected by jacks to the plates 25 and 28 as shown in Fig. '1) the block I! is provided with a recess -50 which is slidably engag d by a switch in the form of a tapered pin I2- As will be seen from Figs. 3-, 5 and 6, the switch extends through an opening provided in the bracket II and carries a head on one side of the bracket and a collar 54 on jecting into an annular slot 84 which thus retains the parts in operative relation while permitting rotary motion therebetween.

This latter rotary motion together with that beween the flexiblesheathing 58 and sleeve Ill. and the flexibility of the sheathing itself makes a substantially universal joint between the synchronizing apparatus and the camera allowing the apparatus to be held in practically any desired position relative to the camera during an exposure.

Interiorly of the casing 58 is a slidable sleeve or plunger 61 provided witha notch ll normally engageable by one arm of the solenoid armature which projects through a slot 69 in the wall of the casing 58. Threadedly attached to the sleeve or plunger 61 'is a rod Ill projecting each side of the plunger which at one end is provided with surrounds the rod III and is disposed between the plunger sleeve 61 and the interior end of the sleeve 60 which is compressed upon movement of the plunger sleeve and serves to return the plunger to its normal cocked position following I the other side, with a coil spring Ii bearing against the collar is and the block", to maintain the switch in its normal open position.

When the switch I2 is depressed the tapered end contacts a pair of contact terminals 58 (l'lg. 6) secured to the respective metallicplates I4 and, 25. Since the plate 24, as previously mentioned, carries a positive polarity from the batteries 8 and I, the switch 52 thus bridges this plate I4 with the plate 2! making the latter also momentarily positive. The photoflash' lamp ll being connected to the plate 24 by the rivet l4 and sprlng clip ll (as well as the lamps and II by the clips 43) and the winding of the solehold '81 being connected by the conductor II to the plate II, are thus simultaneously energized; since the lamp I] (and lamps and a) as well as the solenoid I1, receive negative polarity through the ground or metallic parts of the ap- In order'to cause opening of a camera shutter l'l (Fig. 1), the metallic member I is provided each exposure; I

To complete an operative connection from the plunger rod 10 to the cable release 63 and not detract from the flexibility of the sheathing II. the latter is provided with aplurality of granules or balls 16 extending from the end of the plunger rod III to the end of the cable release wire. It will also be noted that the latter is surrounded by a coil spring IT within the threaded sleeve 02 which serves to'assist in closure of the camera shutter in the usual manner.

The normal position of the apparatus is as shown in Fig. 3 and when the synchronizer is connected to the camera shutter 51 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1 it is ready for the taking of a photoflash exposure. The photographer accordingly depresses the finger piece 13 which thus telescopes within the protruding end of the casing 58 compressing the spring 14 until the finger piece contacts the head 53 of the switch II. Upon engagement of. this" finger piece with the switch, the latter is depressed simultaneously with further depression of the finger piece until the switch closes the contacts I! (Fig. 6)-

which thus supplies electrical energy from the 14 upon depression of the finger piece 13 will cause rapid movement of the plunger 81 together with its integral rod Ill to the right as viewed from Fig. 3. Since one end of the rod I is engaged with one of the balls 16 the latter are likewise pushed or rolled to the right which in turn pushes on the cable release thus causing opening of the camera shutter 51.

Following the taking of the exposure and-the removal of the operator's finger from the finger piece It the synchronizing apparatus and camera are again automatically cocked preparatory to a further exposure. Since movement of the armature 45 again snaps into the notch 68 of the plunger 61 due to the energy in the leaf spring 41.

It will be noted that there is thus a slight time delay between energization of the solenoid 31 and the actual complete openingof the camera shutter which is timed so as to occur simultaneously with the moment of peak intensity of the photoflash lamp. Since the rod threadedly engages the plunger 61 the tension of the spring 14 can be adjusted by. rotation of the head 12 which thus effects to an appreciable extent the rapidity with which the camera shutter can be opened. To properlyv synchronize the apparatus, however, the air-gap of the solenoid time required for the camera shutter to com' pletely open can be made to coincide with the moment of peak intensity thus giving complete synchronization.

It thus becomes readily apparent to those skillledin the art that a synchronizing apparatus is herein provided which is very compact and which is readily attachable to the battery case. nizer to the camera shutter is such that a substantially universal joint is established therebetween enabling operation of the synchronizer from practically any position relative to the camera. By the provision of an automatic self "cocking arrangementwhich is of compact form and operable by a single control button the synchronizer is, always ready for operation for a succeeding exposure thus saving considerable time which is so invaluable particularly in newsphotography. 7

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been herein shown and described it is to be understood that still i'urther-rnodiflcations of the same may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

Moreover the connection of the synchroof peak intensityi'rom a photoflash lamp com-.

prising a casing forming an end closurefor a battery case} means carried by said casing for opening a camera. shutter, electrically operable means within said casing normally engaging said taneous energization of said photofiash lamp and electrically operable means to cause the latter to release said shutter opening means whereby thesame is moved by the energy stored in said energy storage means to open the camera shutter at the moment of peak intensity of said photofiash'lamp, and means operable upon movement of said shutter opening means in the shutter opening position for returning the same into engagement with said electrically operable means. 2. A synchronizing apparatus for opening a camera shutter simultaneously with the moment of peak intensity from a photofiash lamp comprising a battery case, a synchronizing unit readily attachable to said; battery case including a socket for supporting a photoflash lamp and forming an end closure for said battery case, shutter opening means carried by said unit, electrically operable means forming a part of said unit, and

normally engaging said shutter opening means for holding'the latter against movement ready for operation, switching means carried by said unit and operable to cause the simultaneous energization of said photofiash lamp and said electrically operable means. potential energy storage means carried by said unit for causing movement of said shutter opening means upon release thereof by said electrically operable means, a manually operable member forming a part of said unit for causing the storage of energyin said potential energy storage means and movable farther to operate said switching means to cause release of said shutter opening means and movement of the latter-by said energy storage means to open the camera shutter at the moment of peak intensity of. said photoflash lamp, and means carried by said unit and operable upon movement of said shutter opening means, to the shutter noid, .means for'storing potential energy engaging said shutter actuating member for causing movement of the latter, a manually operable member forv causing the storage of potential energy in said means and movable farther into contact with said switch to depress the same and simultaneously cause ignition of said photoflash lamp and energization of said solenoid with at-c .tendant release of said trigger and accompanysocket for supporting a photofiash lamp and forming an end closure for said attery case, a movable plunger carried by said unit and adapted to be connected to a camera shutter for opening the same, a solenoid within said unit provided with an armature arranged to constitute a trigger for normally holding said plunger to prevent movement 01' the latter, a switch forming a part of said unit and depressible to close an electrical circuit to said photoflash lamp and to said solenoid,-'a coil spring in operative relation with said plunger for moving the latter upon the storplunger in the shutter opening position for returning said plunger into latching engagement with said trigger. v

5. A synchronizing apparatus for opening a camera shutter simultaneously with the moment of peak intensity from a photoflash lamp comprising a battery case,'a synchronizing unit readily attachable to said battery case including a socket forsupporting 'a photoflash lamp and forming an end closure for said battery case, a

' movable plunger carried bysaid unit, means conage of potential energy in said spring, a manually operable member depressible to cause the storage of potential energy in'said coil spring and movable farther into contact with said switch to simultaneously cause ignition of said photoflash lamp and energization of said solenoid with release of said trigger and accompanying movement of said plunger under the influence of the energy stored in said coilspring to open the camera shutter at the moment of peak intensity of the photoflash lamp, and a spring operable to store potential energy upon movement of said necting said plunger to a camera shutter including a plurality of granules cooperating to form a substantially universal joint therebetween,- a solenoid within .said unit provided with an armature arranged to constitute a trigger for normally holding said plunger to prevent movement of the latter, a switch carried by said unit and depressible to close an electrical circuit to said photoflash lamp and to said solenoid, a coil spring in operative relation withsaid plunger for movi ing the latter and said connecting means upon the storage of. potential energy in said spring, a

manually operable member depressible to cause the storage of potential energy in said coil spring and movable farther-into contact with said switch tosimultaneousl'y cause ignition of said photoflash lamp and energization-oi' said solenoid with release of said trigger and accompanying movement of said plunger and said connecting means under the influence of the energy stored in said .coil spring to open the camera shutterat the moment of peak intensity of the photoflash lamp, and a spring operable to store potential energy upon movement or said plunger and said connecting means inthe shutter opening position for returning said plunger into latching engagement with saidtriggen Y SAMUEL MENDELSOHN.

PHIpIP K. McGALL. 

